If you’ve ever played the popular classic PC game Minesweeper, then you know it can be a real challenge to beat. However, once you master this fun strategy-based game’s basic rules and principles, achieving a win is not only possible—it’s almost inevitable!
Understanding what makes Minesweeper work will get you putting your flagging skills to use. Winning will become easier once you learn how to play this logic puzzle game and some basic rules. At the same time, you can increase your mine-clearing confidence and have loads of fun.
How to Play Minesweeper & Everything You Need to Know
The main goal of Minesweeper is to clear all the mines on the board without detonating any of them. To do this, you must use logic and deduction skills to determine which squares contain bombs and choose the ones with numbers. But how can you do that? Below are some things you need to know.
The Goal of Minesweeper
You will never win a game if you don’t understand its primary goal, and the same goes for Minesweeper. It’s already clear that you must avoid the mines at all costs because hitting them will result in a game over.
However, the way you think will also play a role. Instead of avoiding the mines to win, think of it as completing the board without detonating any mines. Think of yourself as a mine detection unit, where you must put flags on safe zones.
For instance, Minesweeper by Eric Mesquita allows you to incorporate as many flags as you want on the grid to indicate where the mines are located. It will give you a better visual reference of their location and help you know which squares to avoid.
Choose Your Board Size
Most Minesweeper games allow players to choose their difficulty levels, corresponding to the board size they want to play on. As a rule of thumb, starting with the most manageable difficulty level is best, and working your way up as you become an expert.
The primary difficulty levels available:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Expert
Some Minesweeper games also have custom modes where players can create their grid size. It’s best for pros who want to further test their skills. For newbies, start from the easiest grid size to complement your gaming capabilities.
What is the Mine Symbol?
While playing, you may have stumbled across a mine many times while trying to win the game. They resemble cartoon versions of mines with spikes, but the game calls them a “bomb.” Every time you make a wrong move, that bomb will be detonated.
Once it detonates, it immediately means the game is over, and the other mines will be revealed. No ifs or buts and you have to repeat the level. However, some games will also allow you to repeat your last move, so it isn’t so bad after all.
The Mighty Flag Symbol
Another symbol you’ll come across in many online Minesweeper games is the flag symbol. These are flags that you place on a square with mines underneath. However, how are you 99.9% sure that these squares have mines? Well, it highly depends on your strategy.
You don’t need the flags to win, but these make the game easier since these act as your determination of which squares are safe and dangerous. Use the flag symbol when you’re sure the square has a hidden mine, or use it to confirm your suspicions.
Use the Question Mark
If the flag symbol is used as your guide to prevent you from clicking on a square since you’re sure it has a hidden mine, the question mark marks squares you’re unsure of since it means you’re uncertain. You can change it to a flag symbol once you’re sure as you progress.
Unfortunately, not all versions of Minesweeper offer the question mark symbol. Fortunately, Mine Sweeper MONO by GALBRO INC. provides a minimalist design with flag and question mark symbols players can utilize in the game.
What Do Numbers Mean?
When you open a square in the game, you might notice numbers on them. These numbers ranging from 1 to 8, represent the number of mines found adjacent to the square you’ve clicked.
Understanding the meaning of these numbers will drastically increase your chance of winning the game since you already know where the mines might appear. If you see a 1, the square has one mine adjacent; if a number 2 appears, two mines are next to or adjacent to that particular square.
Don’t Worry About These Elements
Sometimes you find things you don’t understand in the game. Don’t worry because these things won’t make you lose the game.
Some of these are as follows:
- Blank squares: Clusters of empty squares mean no neighboring mines around the numbers.
- First click: Your first click can be anywhere in the grid, so you can click whatever square you like without worrying about triggering a mine.
- Timer: The timer appears outside the grid. It starts on your first click and stops on your last (whether due to winning or detonating a mine). Most players try to complete the game as quickly as possible, but it’s unnecessary.
- Counter box: Apart from the timer, you can see another box with a number inside. The number represents how many mines are in the game. Once you place a flag (correctly), the number will decrease. Minesweeper by RC4812 is an excellent version with a counter box on the screen.
Random Guessing
Sometimes you no longer have options after exhausting all your tactics and strategies. Once this happens, you will have to make a guess. Make sure that it will help you on your subsequent clicks or that you’re at least 80% sure it isn’t a mine.
Master the Art of Minesweeping by Understanding the Principles
Minesweeper is a game of logic and deduction. Therefore, to master the game, you must understand its principles. Knowing what each symbol and element means, winning will become easier. All it takes is truly understanding the game for you to succeed.
